Adaptable seat

• US 20020047297A1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation), Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Visconti, Amedeo, Longhi, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 6,578,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/646 shape of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/48 Piezoelectric

Abstract

An adaptable seat having a supporting frame, and one or more supporting cushions appropriately arranged and fixed to the supporting frame to support the occupant; each supporting cushion having an outer shell and a filler; and the adaptable seat being characterized in that the outer shell of each supporting cushion has electrically controlled deforming means for selectively deforming the outer shell to adjust the shape of the supporting cushion; an electronic central control unit being provided to control the electrically controlled deforming means.

Claims

1. ) An adaptable seat (1) comprising a supporting frame (2), and at least one supporting cushion (3) fixed to the supporting frame (2) to support the occupant;

said at least one supporting cushion (3) comprising an outer shell (6) and a filler (7); and

the adaptable seat (1) being characterized in that the outer shell (6) of said supporting cushion (3) comprises electrically controlled deforming means (9) for selectively deforming the outer shell (6) to adjust the shape of the supporting cushion

2. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 1, characterized by comprising an electronic central control unit (5) for controlling on command said electrically controlled deforming means (9).

3. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said electrically controlled deforming means (9) comprise an active membrane (9) made at least partly of composite material deformable on command by application of a voltage.

4. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said active membrane (9) is made at least partly of composite material comprising active fibers (11) made of material having piezoelectric properties;

said active fibers (11), when subjected to an electric field, being deformable by changing in length to deform the body in which they are enclosed.

5. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said active membrane (9) is defined at least partly by a layer of active composite material (9a) comprising at least one flat belt (10) of active fibers (11) embedded in a matrix (12) of polymer material, and two electrodes (13) made of electrically conducting material and located on opposite sides of said at least one flat belt (10) of active fibers (11);

said active fibers (11) being monofilament fibers.

6. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said active fibers (11) extend parallel to one another along a substantially straight path.

7. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said active fibers (11) are made of piezoceramic material, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

8. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that each said electrode (13) comprises a mesh (13) of electrically conducting material arranged on or close to the surface of said layer of active composite material (9a).

9. ) An adaptable seat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the outer shell (6) of said supporting cushion (3) comprises an elastic sealing membrane (8) to prevent leakage of the filler (7).

10. ) A vehicle, characterized by comprising at least one adaptable seat (1) as claimed in claim 1.

11. ) A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the electronic central control unit (5) of said adaptable seat (1) is capable of controlling said electrically controlled deforming means (9) on the basis of signals relative to the driving conditions of the vehicle.